Congress should redirect its energy

Health care in the U.S. costs about $8,200 per person, the most expensive in the world. Canadians spend $4,400 while the French spend about $4,000. For about double what those countries pay per person, Americans get a health system that ranks 37th out of 191 countries ,according to the World Health Organization. The U.S. ranks just above Slovenia and Cuba, and not even close to France, which is No. 1.

Instead of attacking Obamacare, why don't the Republican members of Congress pass a law that allows Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices? Instead of voting 40 times against health care reform, why don't they vote to bring generic drugs to market faster? And while they are at it, Congress should vote to discontinue its outrageously expensive pension and health plans, rather than plan to shut down the federal government.